PROGRAMME CONTENTS

This is the process of systematically withdrawing toxins from the beneficiary’s system. Detoxification is done “Cold Turkey” – that is naturally, free of medications. It is not a treatment in and of itself, but the first step in the long-term treatment of drug abuse/addiction. Addictive drug use often leads to an unpleasant series of symptoms if drug use ceases suddenly. The symptoms can be psychological, such as depression, anxiety, panic attacks, lethargy, or paranoia, or they can be physical such as severe body pains, twitches, seizures, nausea, diarrhea, yawning, fatigue, fever, sleeplessness. The symptoms can vary in onset, duration, and intensity from individual to individual, and from drug to drug. They usually last for between one to three weeks We incorporate counseling and care during detoxification to help with the consequences of withdrawal.

Spiritual Deliverance Exercises

What binds a person to drugs is an evil power. The power neutralizes the addict’s volition and disables him/her from making right decisions. The power is beyond the natural realm and requires supernatural (spiritual) solution. We therefore organize series of Spiritual Deliverance Exercises (anchored by seasoned “deliverance ministers”) for our beneficiaries, starting from shortly after the period of detoxification.

Devotions Using Expositional Bible Teachings The demon of drug abuse/addiction that is cast out of the beneficiary during the deliverance exercise soon after detoxification is assumed not to have gone permanently. Luke 4:13 tells us that Satan’s departure was for a while. There’s need therefore for the beneficiary’s mind to be filled with the Word of God. In view of this, we conduct morning and evening devotions during which we teach the Word of God.

The New Birth

The most important thing an addict need is the salvation of his/her soul. Without the experience of the new birth, an addict cannot experience any lasting solution to his/her problem of addiction, no matter what. At salvation, a new life is generated through the power of God (2 Corinthians 5:17). We expound the basic concept of salvation to beneficiaries, at intervals throughout the programme, beginning from the week immediately after detoxification, and invitation to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior extended to them, so that they can begin a journey of godliness.

Drug Education

Anyone who has ever wanted to stop drug use has dreamed of a magic cure – an effortless solution that takes the whole problem away. Stopping drug use is not an event, but as part of a process. Stopping drug use is like a journey from safe shores into uncharted waters, leaving behind established routines for a profound healthier lifestyle; it is really about a person changing the way he/she thinks as a drug user. It is a matter of becoming aware of the addiction in the mind and resolving the conflicts it creates. Drug Education gives understanding of how addiction works and the skills needed to stop drug use and stay stopped.

Drug Abuse Counselling Drug abuse counseling is all about gaining understanding of why individuals use drugs and eventually become addicted. We conduct counselling sessions to address the “triggers” for an addict’s drug use and help him/her find more positive and productive ways to react to life stressors. Our Drug abuse counseling is divided into two classes, viz:

(1) Individual Counselling: This is a great starting place for beneficiaries to build trust with the Care staff. It targets the psychological, social, and behavioral aspects of addiction. It allows the beneficiary to work one-on-one with the Care staff in order to really delve into the beneficiary’s own personal issues, in order to discover the causes and triggers of his/her addiction and how it can be helpfully. We employ Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI).

(2) Group Counselling: In Group Counselling, a group of beneficiaries are brought together to discuss their shared problem (addiction) and other critical issues in an environment of support and mutual understanding. Usually guided by the Care staff, Group Counselling (also known as Group Therapy) sessions allows beneficiaries to see that they are not alone in their struggles, and to learn techniques from each other on how to deal with those struggles and maintain abstinence. Respect for the group and participation are important qualities that help to get the most out of the group counseling sessions. It is a rule that whatever is discussed during the sessions are not to be discussed outside by anyone. This is to build trust and confidence.

Helping One Another Change Bad Habits (the Christian 12-steps)

This is done in self-help groups with principles like those set forth in “Alcoholic Anonymous” (AA). However, even more is the requirement for the “Higher Power” which the AA alludes to in general terms, but which we in CADAM know and believe to be God, the Father of Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. We have therefore Christianize the 12-steps for use.

Building Right Self-Esteem

The root of drug addiction in most individuals is a lack of self-worth. Many addicts have been damaged emotionally by rejection, abandonment, abuse, etc., and thereby their capacity to love and accept themselves have either been eroded or considerably reduced. Self-worth issues are rooted in the addict’s belief that he/she is not worthy or deserve to be loved. A crucial step in recovery from addiction is learning to love and accept oneself. We offer lessons in Building Right Self-Esteem in order to help the beneficiary deal with self-worth issues that limited his capacity to freely receive love from God, others, and himself/herself.

Relapse Prevention Therapy

The entire focus of our treatment programme lies in assisting addicts to achieve and maintain quality long-term recovery from abuse/addiction and live positive and productive lives. But it has been identified that relapse is an ever-present possibility for the majority of drug addicts. Most addicts readily achieve a period of sobriety after treatment, but there is yet a sizeable number who return to drug use within relatively short periods of time.

Our Relapse Prevention Therapy is not just the concept of trying to help beneficiaries maintain continued abstinence from drug use, it is also a psychotherapy used to teach them how to identify and control their lifestyle problems that could lead to relapse.

Vocational Assessment and Counselling

The main objectives of Vocational Assessment are: – to identify idealistic and realistic options from the various vocations available – to identify a beneficiary’s strengths and skills which may help him/her to choose a suitable vocation – to identify a beneficiary’s weaknesses or lack of skills which need to be enhanced, overcome, or modified for the beneficiary to choose and do well in a suitable vocation.

Vocational Counselling takes place after the vocational assessment has been completed. The aim is to assist the beneficiary in making wise vocational training choice for future employment security and satisfaction.

Vocational Rehabilitation (Training) This is the process whereby the beneficiaries are trained in various marketable vocations, such that the trained beneficiary will be able to set up his/her own small business enterprise if he/she chooses to. Our vocational training programme focuses on the “total person”, and promotes the concept of self-help.